Posts from August, 2010

Leland Vetter, Eastern Wyoming College Welding Instructor was recently selected to receive the Honorary American FFA Degree. The award is given to those who advance agricultural education and FFA through outstanding personal commitment.

Vetter was nominated for this award by the Wyoming Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association (WVATA). This group consists of present and past high school agriculture instructors and FFA advisors, WDE members and college agriculture instructors.

“Leland has not only established and run an extremely successful program over the last 30 years but furthered the education of numerous Wyoming FFA members by developing their skills and integrity as young men and women,” shared Jason Groene, Agriculture Education Instructor and FFA Advisor for Torrington and Lingle/Ft. Laramie High Schools. “Leland has also served as an official for the Wyoming FFA Agricultural Mechanics contest during the State FFA convention. As a group, the WVATA decided that Leland was deserving of this honor because of his dedication to his students and his craft. He does this with the utmost integrity and values.”

Vetter has worked at EWC since 1980 as a welding and machine tooling instructor. He serves as the director of the welding program. Last year during the state conference for technical educators held on the EWC campus, Vetter provided a workshop for agriculture educators in attendance. He has also worked to help prepare local students for state and national competitions.

“When I was notified that I had won this award I was surprised. I didn’t even know that I was nominated,” shared Vetter. “It is good to be affiliated with the FFA chapters we have in Wyoming and I am especially pleased to be a part of the fresh new direction of our local chapter.”

EWC president had the following to say about Vetter’s award, “Energetic, charismatic, enthusiastic; committed, dedicated, respected. Not sure these characteristics appear on any official FFA documents used in selecting honorees, but they do describe Leland Vetter. Leland’s reputation for providing leadership and expert instruction in the welding and joining industry extends far beyond Torrington and Eastern Wyoming College. This recognition is particularly relevant because it represents his work and involvement with individuals outside the college as well.”

The National FFA Organization formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 520,284 student members and works to enhance the lives of youth through agricultural education. Without the efforts of highly dedicated individuals, thousands of young people would not be able to achieve success that, in turn, contributes directly to the overall well being of the nation. The Honorary American FFA Degree is an opportunity to recognize those who have gone beyond the valuable daily contributions to make an extraordinary long-term difference in the lives of students, inspiring confidence in a new generation of agriculturists.

Mr. Vetter will travel to Indianapolis in order to receive the honor during an onstage presentation at the 83rd National FFA Convention, held October 20-23, 2010. All recipients will receive a certificate and medal and their names will be permanently recorded.

Visit www.ffa.org for more information about the National FFA Organization or ewc.wy.edu for more information about Eastern Wyoming College.

Thanks to a generous gift to the Eastern Wyoming College Foundation from the estate of Mary Lou Atkins, EWC is revitalizing its landscaping across the front of the main campus in Torrington.

The College contracted with Sawyer Waterscaping of Burns, Wyoming to construct and present a native Wyoming look to include formations of moss boulders, pondless water features, native plants and flagstone walkways. Sawyer Waterscaping is working with local contractors to complete the project.

With the permission of the family of Dr. Loran and Beth Morgan, the area in front of the student center which had been previously dedicated through their support has been blended into the overall look of the landscaping project. The donation by the Morgan family will still be honored with a plaque in that area.

The landscaping currently underway at the College is the first part of a long-range landscaping plan intended to provide a consistent look to the College’s appearance and to revitalize several areas in need of attention. The College will also be receiving new windows, paint and carpeting in the Tebbet Classroom building funded through federal stimulus dollars. New signage for the buildings is also under development.

A dedication and re-dedication ceremony to honor Mary Lou Atkins and the Morgan family will be held later this fall.